Tag Archives: Dag & Red

Gillingham made it two away wins in three days, and moved into the play-off places with a win at Port Vale on Tuesday night. Marc Richards put Vale 1-0 up but the Gills staged a second half come-back with goals from Denis Oli, Adam Miller, and a Simeon Jackson penalty.

Elsewhere, Exeter grabbed a priceless win at rivals Dag & Red. Craig McAllister scored twice as the Grecians leapfrogged the Daggers. And Aldershot fell further behind the pack with a 2-2 draw at home to Notts County.

With so few League 2 sides involved in the cup, there were plenty of fixtures to look forward to. However with the cold snap already here, many of those games were called off.

Of the games that did take place, Wycombe continued their march, beating Bury 2-1. Matt Harrold scored again, hitting home a low cross from Lewis Spence. Angelo Balanta doubled the lead, poking home after Harrolds shot was spilled by the keeper. The Shakers grabbed a consolation in the last minute, when Mike Williamson – subject of a bid from Colchester United, put through his own net.

Elsewhere, Shrewsbury combated their horrific away form by grinding out a 0-0 draw at promotion rivals Bradford. The Shrews were on the backfoot for most of the first-half, with Barry Conlon going close with a tremendous long-range volley that hit the inside of the post. The second-half was a much more even affair, with Grant Holt spurning the Shrews best opportunity.

Dag & Red’s hot form was interupted at the Don Valley stadium by a late equaliser from Rotherham United. The Daggers, who have been on fire recently, went 1-0 up through a Matt Richie header. But a late equaliser – five minutes into injury time, from captain Ian Sharp, salvaged a point for the Millers.

In a tight game at St James Park, two promotion hopefuls went head-to-head. It was the Bees of Brentford who came out on top, condemning surprise package Exeter to a home defeat.

It came courtesy of a controversial penalty – after a tackle from Exeter’s Rob Edwards, when it appeared that he had won the ball. It was dispatched with ease by Charlie MacDonald 14 minutes from time, and Sam Wood added another four minutes later.

It moves Brentford up to 2nd, after an impressive Christmas period, while Exeter remain in the play-off places.

Elsewhere, leaders Wycombe were held at Gillingham, thanks to a late equaliser from Curtis Weston. And Shrewsbury ended a poor-run of three successive defeats with a battling victory over high-flying Bury. Grant Holt – linked with a move away from the club in the January transfer window, nodded in expertly after Bury defender Efe Sodje had been sent off for an elbow earlier in the game.

And Dag & Red secured a massive win away to play-off chasing Aldershot. The win was slightly fortuitous – a late winner from Jon Nurse after Aldershot had missed chances themselves to win the game.

More misery for League 2 this weekend. In fact, the only League 2 club to make it through, were playing against a team from the same division!

Macclesfield beat Port Vale 3-1, with 2 goals from Francis Green handing them a home-tie against Premier League Everton in the Third Round draw.

Notts County face a replay, after being held by Kettering, as do Bournemouth, who were frustrated by Blyth Spartans. Bradford lost at home to League 1 Leyton Orient 2-1, and Dag & Red put up a good fight away to high-flying Leicester City, going down 3-2 in the end.

But the big story was our very own ‘invincibles’. Can’t lose in League 1, but put them on a sloped pitch against a team three divisions below them and they lose! Eastwood Town humbled the mighty Wycombe 2-0, and sent themselves through to the Third Round.

Forest Green beat Rochdale 2-0, to send another League 2 club on form out of the competition. And Brentford who comfortably sit in the top-half of League 2 were beaten by Conference strugglers Barrow.

With a full set of mid-week fixtures, League 2 threw up some interesting results.

First off, what a result for Chester City. New manager Mark Wright took his side to high-flying Darlington, and came away with a 2-1 win. Rob Purdie put the home side ahead, before a stunning volley from Ryan Lowe (below) levelled things up. And Shaun Kelly headed in the winner to deny Dave Penney’s team.

In an entertaining match at Valley Parade, Bradford came from 2-0 down to win the game. Jack Lester gave Chesterfield an early lead, followed by a deflected Darren Currie effort to put the Spireites in control. Graeme Lee started the comeback with a free kick, before Michael Boulding squared the game with a header. And with 20 minutes to go, Alan Goodall was sent off for bringing Nicky Law down in the box. Barry Conlon piled on the misery for Lee Richardson by dispatching the penalty, and making it 3-2.

In other news, Wycombe extended their unbeaten run at the top, with Matt Harrold and Lewis Spence netting the goals. And a late Grant Holt penalty gave Shrewsbury a much needed victory over Dag & Red.

Darlington went into this weekend top of League 2, but faced a fight from fellow promotion candidates Brentford. The Quakers looked like bouncing back from a mid-week loss to Droylsden when Richie Foran headed in unmarked. However a late Karleigh Osbourne equaliser denied them, and gave Wycombe the chance to go top.

And they did, in an entertaining game at home to Port Vale. Chris Zebroski and Matt Harrold both netted twice, although the Chairboys were made to work for it. A Marc Richards penalty, and a Scott Brown shot, twice brought the Stoke side within a goal.

Zebroski has hit some form for Wycombe

Elsewhere at the top, Rochdale moved into third with a comfortable victory. Lee Thorpe and Adam le Fondre eased them home against rock-bottom Luton. Bury and Dag & Red both kept up their challenges with convincing wins. Bury ripped the form books apart with a 4-0 victory over Gillingham, while Dagenham smashed inconsistent Notts County 6-1, which included a Paul Benson hat-trick.

And Shrewsbury held on at Lincoln despite having Richard Walker sent off in the third minute.

League 2 was represented in the JPT on Tuesday night with four teams making it through to the area semi-finals. Most impressive were Rotherham, who managed a 2-0 win at home to League 1 favourites Leicester City.

Shrewsbury continued their goal scoring streak in the competition, with a 5-0 demolition of Dag & Red. Grant Holt took his tally to 7 in the competition with a brace.